Neville and his wife, Hannah who was also pregnant arrived late morning. Hermione almost ran at him, grabbing him into a hug. He was dressed in his professor's robes and after she'd hugged him, Hermione stared at him with a huge smile.
"Wow! Neville Longbottom – you've gone and got all handsome," she said and Neville blushed.
"Aww, shut up Hermione," he said.
"Yeh, shut up Granger," Draco said, stepping forward and offering Neville his hand. "Professor Longbottom eh? Who would have thought?"
Neville looked down at Draco's outstretched hand then up at his face but it only took a second or two for him to overcome his surprise and to shake Draco's hand.
"You always underestimated me, Malfoy," he said but not aggressively.
Draco raised his eyebrows. "It was you that ended up hanging from a chandelier thanks to some Cornish Pixies wasn't it?"
"Draco!" Hermione reprimanded him, annoyed that he was goading her friend but then she noticed that both Draco and Neville were grinning at her. Neville rubbed his forehead.
"I'd totally forgotten about that! Don't let the students hear about it or I'll never be given a minutes peace!"
Hermione watched them both suspiciously but they seemed to be both in a good mood. Draco chuckled at her.
"Hermione's brain is about to explode as she can't comprehend that we are actually being civil to each other!" he said.
"Actually, I was sure Neville would be perfectly polite. It was you I was worried about," Hermione came back at Draco quickly and Neville gave a little laugh.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
"Neville's wife seemed really lovely," Hermione commented. They were back in their rooms and she was flicking through a book. Draco was lying on the opposite sofa. When he didn't answer her she looked over at him. "Did you hear me?"
Draco glanced over at her. "Yeh..." he answered vaguely.
"What's the matter?"
Draco sat up and stared over at her. "You're doing it again," he said.
"Doing what?"
"Reading my thoughts. Have you been secretly studying Occlumency?"
"No, you're very easy to read," Hermione said this on purpose, knowing it would irritate him.
"What do you mean? I'm not easy to read!" he asked. "Something's wrong though."
Hermione put her book down. "How do you know? In what way?"
"Well, nearly all the couples are here now and there has been nothing. No suspicious happenings, no attempt to attack, nothing! This was their ideal opportunity so why would they waste it?" Draco mulled over the situation.
"That's what we wanted wasn't it?" Hermione asked.
"Yes but it's been too simple. It's making me feel uneasy."
"Maybe we've just outwitted them. Perhaps they didn't suspect that we would move in separately. They may be waiting for a movement on mass?" Hermione suggested, positively but Draco shook his head.
"No. Something is wrong, I'm sure of it."
"That's one of the things I've always liked about you – your optimistic attitude!" Hermione said this sarcastically.
"It's called being realistic, Hermione," Draco replied. "Slytherin like rather than the ridiculously, positive attitude of bloody Gryffindors!"
Hermione glared at him. "Why do are conversations always end with you insulting me in one way or another?"
"They don't."
"Yes they do!"
A loud knock on the door, followed immediately by another stopped their imminent conversation. Hermione rushed to open the door, which was being knocked loudly again, the urgency being made obvious. She flung the door open to find Neville standing there.
"What is it?" Hermione didn't bother with hello, it was obvious that something was the matter from the expression on his face.
"There's been a huge disturbance at the Ministry," Neville said, stepping inside. "It was a sudden attack, they were able to get in because they had people inside."
"Inside?" Draco asked as he approached. "They sneaked people in?"
Neville shook his head. "No, Ministry workers including some senior people were in on it. As soon as the attack started they joined in, turning on their colleagues."
"Merlin!" Draco exclaimed. "How many?"
"They said there were up to 50 altogether," Neville said.
"Is everyone okay?" Hermione asked but the look on Neville's face told her the answer.
"No – some of them didn't stand a chance..."
"What about Harry? And Ron?" Hermione's voice was urgent now but Neville just shook his head again.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. There's no news on who's been hurt yet."
Hermione put her head in her hands and groaned.
"Why?" Draco asked but he was pacing about and obviously wasn't expecting Neville to answer. "Why would they attack the Ministry?"
Hermione ignored him. "How can we find out if Harry and Ron are safe? We have to find out."
Draco looked over at her. "Calm down. I'll go now and see if I can help. I'll send you any news I can find out."
"NO!" Hermione almost shouted at him. "No, you can't go."
"Don't be ridiculous! It's my job!"
"No, Draco." Draco ignored her and looked over at Neville who gave a little nod. Hermione watched this exchange and frowned. "What? What does that mean? Why are you nodding?" She directed the last question at Neville who had stepped closer. He raised his wand and for a moment Hermione thought he was going to aim a spell at her but instead he lifted his wand high and swirled it round. In the same instant she saw Draco turn on the spot before disappearing. Neville reversed his wands circle and then lowered it. It had all happened in less than a few seconds. Hermione turned to Neville, her face like thunder.
"You lifted the protection spells so he could apparate?" Her voice was full of accusation and she felt tears in her eyes.
"Sorry, Hermione but they'll need him there. It's utter chaos and he needs to do what he's been trained for," Neville's voice was still soft and kind but Hermione was angry.
"But that's what Adina and her cronies want, isn't it? They want all the Aurors who are protecting us here to run over there! It leaves us less protected and they are probably going straight into a trap!" Hermione wiped the tears that were now on her cheeks away, angrily. Neville was watching her curiously and he slowly reached over and held her still.
"Malfoy's not stupid, Hermione. He knows what tricks they might be up to. Most of the Aurors are staying here to protect you and the others."
"And if it is a trap? I now have Harry, Ron and Draco to worry about!"
Neville bent a little lower before he spoke. "It isn't pretend is it?" he asked.
"What? What do you mean? What's not pretend?" Hermione was frustrated and angry and she couldn't be bothered to work out what he meant.
"You and Malfoy? You really care about him, don't you?"
Hermione stopped in her tracks and stared at her friend. "He's my husband and I'm having his baby." She offered this as an explanation but she knew this wasn't what Neville meant.
"Because we want to save magic, there's no obligation to actually like each other," Neville pointed out.
"You have feelings for Hannah! I can tell the way you are with each other," Hermione threw this observation back at him.
"I love her," Neville said and shrugged. "We hit it off straight away. This Marriage Law thing is the best thing that has ever happened to me." Hermione felt her anger disappear in a flash. What Neville had confessed and so naturally made her fight instantly dissolve. She couldn't be angry with someone who had told her something so sweet with no hint of hesitancy. And his words had also made her consider her own situation. If Neville could have found the person he was meant to be with because of this law then why couldn't the same be true of her? She realized that Neville was still talking. "I felt so sorry for you when I heard you'd been matched with Malfoy but both of you seem so comfortable around each other. It's okay if you like him, Hermione. He seems different."
Hermione sat down heavily on a chair and Neville watched her. "I do like him, Neville. I really like him..." Her voice trailed off as she hesitated over confessing anything else. She hadn't confessed it to herself yet.
"That's good because if your child is The One then you have to spend the rest of your lives together."
"And if it isn't then we can just say goodbye and go back to how we were..." Hermione didn't sound happy about this. The thought of it made her feel miserable.
"Not exactly. You'll still have a child together," Neville said and he reached across to Hermione and put his hand on her shoulder. "It sounds to me like you and Malfoy need to have a talk."
Hermione jumped up and pushed Neville's hand away. "Yeh, well that would be a lot easier if you hadn't helped him apparate right into a trap!" She saw Neville's face and stopped again. "Oh, Neville! I'm sorry, I shouldn't be shouting at you! You're right, he does need to be there. I just can't stand the thought of anything happening to him or Harry or Ron!"
Neville smiled at her. "You need to sit down and I'll make you a drink," he said, gently.
Hermione did as he asked and rubbed her forehead. "What the hell is wrong with me? I'm totally overreacting!"
"You're pregnant, Hermione," Neville said with a grin and Hermione stared at him.
"Oh Merlin!" she said. He was right! That was why she was so over emotional about everything!
Neville chuckled at her. "It gets worse so I'd sit down and try to keep calm. You need to start looking after yourself and the baby."
Sorry it was so short - I will load the next one soon and this was a good place to break it. If these chapters seem a bit like fillers then sorry again but they are moving the story along and I want a couple of Draco/Hermione chapters soon before the plot kicks in again. Hope you are enjoying. Let me know. x